Alphabetical table of the goods specified in the tariff law, showing classification respectively applicable thereto-Continued.

a If the matches are imported in wooden containers, they shall be allowed a rebate of 25 per cent on the duties and also on the surtax of 100 per cent.

Alphabetical table of the goods specified in the tariff law, showing classification respectively applicable thereto-Continued.

Alphabetical table of the goods specified in the tariff law, showing classification respectively applicable thereto—Continued.

GUATEMALA.

MARKET CONDITIONS.

[From United States Vice and Deputy Consul-General OWEN, Guatemala City, Guatemala.] The United States, all European countries, Peru, and Chile market goods in Guatemala.

There is very little solicitation or drumming. Merchants and manufacturers order through commission or shipping merchants located at principal commercial ports abroad.

These shipping merchants extend credit to reliable persons here of from four to six months. The longest credits are given by Germany.. the shortest by the United States. Interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum is usually charged.

There are no mercantile agencies in Guatemala. Shipping merchants make inquiry through their friends or through the banks. The banks report financial standing of individuals, firms, and companies upon solicitation.

1902 1903 1904

Trade of the United States with Guatemala in 1902, 1903, and 1904. a

a From data of the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labo".

PAPER TRADE.

$1,680,939 1, 128, 045 1,281,382

The Belgian Consul-General in Central America states that there are no paper mills in Guatemala, all the paper consumed in the country being imported from abroad. Nevertheless, the country possesses in abundance the material necessary for such manufacture, notably the "pinares" of Lower Verapaz, the "teosintales" of the north and east, banana stems, the waste from sugar cane, corn husks, “escobilla” (cuitch grass), which grows along the Central Railroad from the capital to Mazatenango and San José. Ramie, a fibrous grass, which would make excellent paper, could be successfully cultivated in the departments crossed by the railroad, and abaca would also constitute a good raw material.

The following figures show the imports of paper during the year 1903: Germany, 5,450 francs; Belgium, 590 francs; China, 35 francs; United States, 1,425 francs; France, 2,345 francs; England, 1,075 francs; total, 10,920 francs. For stationery, cardboard, and desk articles: Germany, 94,620 francs; Belgium, 4,885 francs: Spain, 38,470 francs; United States, 50,440 francs; France, 4,315 francs; England,

27,010 francs; Italy, 1,230 francs; South America, 700 francs; total, 221,690 francs.

The statistics for the preceding years give some details on the kind of paper imported. The figures for 1901 are as follows:

Belgium: Tissue paper (papel de China), 19,925 francs; assorted paper, 8,950 francs.

Germany: Printing paper, 13,200 francs; tissue paper (papel de China), 12,700 francs; emery paper, 200 francs; blotting paper, 975 francs; writing paper, 2,730 francs; binding paper, 1,050 francs; cigarette paper, 9,250 francs.

United States: Printing paper, 49,625 francs; blotting paper, 12,540 francs; emery paper, 1,050 francs; writing paper, 10,195 francs; assorted stationery, 8,535 francs.

Spain: Cigarette paper, 21,750 francs; assorted paper, 4,630 francs. These figures show that in 1901, the United States was the principal furnisher of all kinds of paper, while in 1903, Germany occupied first place.

Spain comes third and furnishes cigarette paper and “florete" paper, ruled or not, used especially by the public administrations. The United States has a great advantage over the other countries, freight from San Francisco to San José, of Guatemala, being cheaper than from Europe.

HAITI.

MARKET CONDITIONS.

[From United States Vice-Consul-General TERRES, Port au Prince, Haiti.]

The United States supplies this market with pork, flour, codfish, herring, salt beef, mackerel, furniture, lumber, cotton goods, such as denims, cotton cloths, and prints, and a few canned goods; Germany with hardware, glassware, drugs, and beer; England with dry goods, cotton cloths, and prints; France with dress goods, toilet soaps, perfumery, drugs, canned goods, shoes, and wines.

Business is generally transacted direct with the European manufacturer and with the United States through commission houses. European credit is usually six months; American credit two or three months.

There are no credit agencies.

Trade of the United States with Haiti in 1902, 1903, and 1904. a

a From data of the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor.